And the award for the most violent pit and show of 2026 goes to… KNOCKED FUCKING LOOSE.
If you're reading this, consider it a eulogy and final will for any brave soul attempting to survive the Hive Mind Tour. There is no safe place, no escaping the manic energy and certainly no avoiding the madness. The warning signs were there from the moment the show was moved indoors due to weather concerns. Originally scheduled for an outdoor venue accommodating more than 10,000 people, it was relocated to an indoor 6,300-capacity warzone. The lineup itself offered another deceptive warning. Boundaries, Superheaven and Denzel Curry each brought something different to the table, but their contrasting sounds did little to prepare the uninitiated for what awaited them. The audience walked into this historic venue like cattle to the slaughter, blissfully unaware of the brutality ahead.
Boundaries wasted no time demanding violence on the venue floor, killing the lights and plunging the room into near-total darkness. Opening with ‘Malconscience’, the faint silhouettes of moshers and crowdkillers left many, myself included, with an immediate pit-stomach feeling of dread. Between the sudden red strobes and the crushing instrumental assault, the venue quickly transformed into a bloodbath reminiscent of the landing at Omaha Beach. The set descended further into a fog of war as Matthew McDougal unleashed every guttural command and ounce of vocal anguish. Highlights included the wall of death during ‘Torn Wide Open’, leaving plenty battered, bruised and bleeding. ‘Bitter Ash, Bitter Love’ brought a rush of crowdsurfers, while ‘My Body Is a Cage’ saw two separate pits collide in spectacular fashion.
Anyone expecting Superheaven to provide a sanctuary or a brief reprieve from the carnage was sorely mistaken. While the post-hardcore band isn’t delivering bone-crushing breakdowns, its emotionally charged instrumentals and soaring vocals act as a siren call for anyone looking to let loose. Crowdsurfers threw themselves toward the barricade as others launched into push pits, responding to every movement the band inspired. Taylor Madison's clean vocals drew the audience in, with the crowd swaying and surging alongside the band's instrumentals. ‘Youngest Daughter’, a clear fan favourite, sent the room into an early frenzy, keeping security busy from start to finish. ‘Numb to What Is Real’ took things further with a circle pit that swallowed up unsuspecting attendees as crowdsurfers continued launching toward the front. Finishing with ‘Poor Aileen’, the band kept the audience riled up and made one thing clear: anyone hoping for a less intense experience would be better off retreating to the far sides or back of the venue.
Denzel Curry, on the other hand, delivered a testament to just how hard trap, rap and rap metal pits can go, rivaling some of the wildest metal shows imaginable. His infectious energy and relentless callouts practically dared the audience to commit acts of violence, ensuring every drink, drop of sweat and ounce of energy was spent that night. Ironically enough, ‘HIT THE FLOOR’ kicked off a feeding frenzy that had the entire venue doing exactly that. ‘RICKY’ got everyone jumping, while fan favourite ‘Victory Lap Five’ sent the crowd screaming, moshing and circle pitting along to the iconic single. Closing with covers of ‘Killing in the Name’ and ‘Bulls on Parade’, Curry demonstrated just how naturally his delivery and aggressive rap flows translate to the metal scene. Credit where it's due: maintaining that level of stamina through an almost 20 track set without letting up is no small feat. After three intense performances, many attendees were already tenderized and running on fumes, unfortunately the killing blow was set up for Knocked Loose.
Returning to the foreboding darkness, Bryan Garris made one thing clear: he expected nothing less than the best from the Los Angeles Knocked Loose crowd, asking, "Are you alive? Prove it.”
‘Deep in the Willow’ kicked off the beatdowns, turning the entire venue into a slaughterhouse. Between the strobing lights, pyrotechnics and flying drinks, the atmosphere became borderline manic. You never knew where the next stray shove, flying limb or fresh injury would come from. The closer you ventured toward the eye of the hurricane, the closer you came to seeing god, all while Knocked Loose provided the soundtrack to your final moments. Brutality and health insurance premiums aside, the band delivered a thoroughly engaging performance packed with surprises. Kadeem France of Loathe joined the stage for ‘Billy No Mates’, while ‘Piece by Piece’ demanded that everyone put down their moshing ambitions and focus on launching as many crowdsurfers toward the barricade as humanly possible. ‘Blinding Faith’ turned up the pyrotechnics and intensity, with three separate pits erupting simultaneously as those at the front were put to work catching and carrying every airborne body.
Closing with ‘Everything Is Quiet Now’, Knocked Loose delivered a rite of passage for anyone witnessing the band’s hardcore royalty firsthand. The wall of death collided into one enormous mass of bodies as the final notes rang out. As the crowd slowly dispersed, the only thing illuminating the beautiful carnage was a neon white cross.
The Hive Mind Tour is a once in a lifetime proving ground for anyone willing to take the risk. Dramatic eulogies aside, this is a thrilling experience that brings together an eclectic mix of genres and elevates the energy of every performance into something greater. Make sure to catch the next stop before the tour wraps up on 8 November, or keep an eye out for the bands at multiple festivals next year. Just remember to stretch, hydrate and perhaps update your health insurance before entering the pit.
